Reference:

• The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India, organized the Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan from 29 May to 12 June 2025.

Key Highlights:

• The campaign was conducted across the country with the aim of modernizing Indian agriculture, promoting scientific dissemination, encouraging sustainable agricultural practices, and empowering farmers.
• Frequency: Organized twice a year—before sowing of Kharif and Rabi crops—to provide timely guidance to farmers.

Coverage:

• Included over 65,000 villages across 723+ districts.
• Targeted to reach 1.3 to 1.5 crore (13–15 million) farmers.
• 2,170 teams were formed, comprising over 16,000 scientists, 731 Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), 113 ICAR institutes, and officials from agriculture, horticulture, animal husbandry, and fisheries departments.
• Special focus on tribal-dominated areas, border villages, and challenging agro-ecological regions.

Objectives:

• Promote scientific farming: Educate farmers about improved seeds, soil health cards, balanced fertilizers, and modern equipment like drones.
• Awareness and empowerment: Spread awareness about government schemes (e.g., PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi, PM Fasal Bima Yojana) and policies.
• Enhance productivity and income: Make farming profitable by reducing costs and increasing yields.
• Sustainable agriculture: Promote natural farming, water conservation, and climate-resilient techniques.
• Two-way communication: Establish direct interaction between farmers and scientists to gather data on farmers' challenges and document their innovations.
• Preserve traditional knowledge: Document farmers’ traditional practices for practical use in future research.

Key Features:

• Lab-to-land approach: Transfer scientific research from laboratories to farms.
• Region-specific guidance: Provide advice on crop selection and management based on soil, climate, and local conditions.

Training and Awareness Camps:

• Provided information on seed treatment, line sowing, and pest management for Kharif crops (e.g., rice, soybean, maize).
• Training on animal husbandry, fisheries, and horticulture.
• Example: In Andaman and Nicobar, 3,239 farmers participated in 42 awareness camps.
• Environmental initiative: Promoted plantation under ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ (One Tree in Mother’s Name) campaign.
• Use of digital and ICT tools: Dissemination through ICT such as YouTube channels and community radio (e.g., Bihar Agricultural University).

Implementation:

• Nodal Agency: Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) are the primary implementing bodies, coordinating with ICAR, State Agricultural Universities, and other departments.

Regional Examples:

• Uttarakhand: Campaign covered 95 blocks, 670 Nyaya Panchayats, and 11,440 villages. Offered interest-free loans (up to ₹3 lakh) and 80% subsidy on farm machinery.
• Bihar: In Katihar, 8,293 farmers trained across 72 villages.
• Uttar Pradesh: Distribution of tractors and high-yield seeds in Maharajganj.
• Sukma (Chhattisgarh): Focus on soil testing and use of agricultural drones in tribal areas.
• Pithoragarh: Training on millets and natural farming.
• Scientific participation: Scientists visited villages for training, e.g., soybean and maize training in Indore.
• Innovation documentation: Farmers’ feedback and innovations were recorded to guide future research.

Impact and Achievements:

• Farmer outreach: Over 900 farmers participated from 9 panchayats in Banka (Bihar).
• Agricultural literature: Over 14,893 booklets distributed in Katihar.
• Financial assistance:

– ₹6,000 annual support under PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi.

– MSP for wheat: ₹2,425 per quintal, MSP for lentils: ₹6,700 per quintal.

• Local innovations: Organic tea gardens and aromatic valleys developed in Uttarakhand.
• Social inclusion: Special focus on women farmers and tribal communities.
• Widespread success: Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan noted on X (formerly Twitter) that the campaign received unprecedented success nationwide.

Challenges:

• Lack of awareness: Limited awareness of government schemes in rural and remote areas.
• Infrastructure gaps: Restricted access to irrigation, electricity, and markets in some regions.
• Climate change: Irregular monsoons and changing weather patterns threaten crops.
• Digital divide: Inequitable access to ICT and digital tools.
• Financial barriers: High costs of adopting modern technologies for small and marginal farmers.